Canon Announces Opening of Public Takeover Bid for All Shares in I.R.I.S. Group SA

Canon Announces Opening of Public Takeover Bid for All Shares in I.R.I.S.
Group SA
PR Newswire
LONDON, February 6, 2013
LONDON, February 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Acquisition to accelerate growth of Canon's solutions business
Re fer ence is made to the joint press release of Cano n and I . R . I . S .
Group SA of 18 September 2012 regarding Canon ' s intention to acquire
I.R.I.S. Group SA . Canon, world-leader in imaging solutions, via its
subsidiary Canon Europa N.V., today announced the opening of a voluntary and
conditional public takeover bid in cash for all shares, warrants and stock
options of I.R.I.S. Group SA. The initial acceptance period under the offer
begins on 6 February 2013 and ends on 20 March 2013.
The bid relates to all shares (including treasury shares) which are not held
by Canon Europa N.V., the warrants and stock options issued by I.R.I.S. Group
SA. The offer price per share is EUR 44.50, and the price for warrants and
stock options has been determined in accordance with market practices.
Canon already has a close strategic partnership with I.R.I.S. Group, developed
over a number of years, which was strengthened in July 2009 when Canon
acquired a 17% stake in the company. Bringing I.R.I.S. Group into the Canon
Group will allow both companies to cooperate more closely in developing a
range of technology solutions to be able to better serve their customers in
the business environment.
Rokus van Iperen, President & CEO, Canon Europe, Middle East and Africa,
comments: " Both management teams are committed to successfully completing
the process already underway to bring I.R.I.S. Group into the Canon Group, and
we look forward to working closely together to drive future growth . We are
confident that I.R.I.S. Group will play a key long term role in building Canon
' s solutions and business services portfolio . "
Pierre de Muelenaere, President & CEO, I.R.I.S. Group, comments: " The
technological world is changing fast. We are offering a strong portfolio of
innovative solutions and complementary services that can generate significant
business benefits for our partners and client s . This portfolio fits
extremely well with Canon ' s strategy to develop a strong solutions and
services activity at interna tional level. Both I.R.I.S. ' s Board of
Director s and Management are therefore unanimously supporting the Bid and
committed to it. "
Full details of the bid are covered in the offer prospectus and the memorandum
in reply prepared by the board of directors of I.R.I.S. Group SA that are
published on the website of I.R.I.S. Group ( http://www.iriscorporate.com )
and of ING Belgium ( http://www.ing.be ). The prospectus can also be sent
without charge upon request by telephone from ING Belgium SA/NV at
+32-2-464-60-02 (French) or at +32-2-464-60-04 (English).
The prospectus and the memorandum in reply, which have both been approved by
the FSMA on 5 February 2013, are also available on the FSMA website at:
http://www.fsma.be/fr/Supervision/fm/oa/ooa/ProspectusOPA.aspx
Notes to Editors:
Prospectus Availability:
Online: The prospectus (including the acceptance form and the memorandum in
reply) is available in English on the website of ING Belgium SA/NV on:
http://www.ing.be/en/retail/investments/shares-and-bonds/Pages/shares.aspx?WT.xmenusource=LEFTNAVIGATION_Actions
It is also available in French on the website of ING Belgium SA/NV at:
http://www.ing.be/fr/retail/investments/shares-and-bonds/Pages/shares.aspx?WT.xmenusource=LEFTNAVIGATION_Actions
The prospectus is also available in English and in French on the I.R.I.S.
Group website at: http://www.iriscorporate.com/c2-151-17/Prospectus.aspx
Further, the summary of the prospectus is also available in Dutch on the
website of ING Belgium SA/NV at:
https://www.ing.be/nl/retail/investments/shares-and-bonds/Pages/shares.aspx?WT.xmenusource=LANGUAGE_NL
By Phone : The prospectus can also be sent without charge upon request by
telephone from ING Belgium SA/NV at +32-2-464-60-02 (French) or at
+32-2-464-60-04 (English).
About I.R.I.S. Group
I.R.I.S.' mission is to increase our customers' productivity and knowledge
through helping them better manage their documents, data and information.
I.R.I.S. Products & Technologies develops technologies and products for
Intelligent Document Recognition and markets its portfolio on a worldwide
basis through strong partnerships. I.R.I.S. Professional Solutions enables
companies and administrations to find in one company the innovative expertise
and hi‐tech solutions to efficiently manage documents, information flows and
IT infrastructure. I.R.I.S. has more than 500 employees based in
Louvain-la-Neuve, Vilvoorde and Brasschaat (Belgium), Orly (France), Windhof
(Luxemburg), Amstelveen and Meerssen (The Netherlands), Aachen (Germany),
Delray Beach (USA), Hong Kong (China), Copenhagen (Denmark)and Oslo (Norway).
http://www.iriscorporate.com
About Canon Europe
Canon Europe is the regional sales and marketing operation for Canon Inc.,
represented in 116 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Founded in 1937 with the specific goal of making the best quality camera
available to customers, Canon's tireless passion for the Power of Image has
since extended its technology into many other markets and has established it
as a world leader in both consumer and business imaging solutions.Its
solutions comprise products, ranging from digital compact and SLR cameras,
through broadcast lenses and portable X-ray machines, to multi-function and
production printers, all supported by a range of value added services.
Canon invests heavily in R&D to deliver the richest and most innovative
products and services to satisfy customers' creative needs. From amateur
photographers to professional print companies, Canon enables each customer to
realise their own passion for image.
Canon's corporate philosophy is Kyosei - 'living and working together for the
common good'. In EMEA, Canon Europe pursues sustainable business growth,
focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to
reduce theirs using Canon's products, solutions and services. Canon has
achieved global certification to ISO 14001, demonstrating a world-class
environmental management standard.
Further information about Canon Europe is available at:
http://www.canon-europe.com
Contact: For Canon Europe: Lucie Smith, Nelson Bostock Communications (on
behalf of Canon Europe), Tel: +44(0)20-7792-7412, Email:
lucie.smith@nelsonbostock.com / For I.R.I.S. Group: Denis Hermesse, CFO
I.R.I.S, Tel: +32(0)10-487-460, Email: investors@iriscorporate.com